Magnus
"Painful for us to watch, painful for you to feel." I laughed at Celeste, who was writhing in pain, the mate bond broken from Blake's death.She blew him a kiss, how touching. Why didn't she save him so she could heal him? Honestly, she looked sick. Maybe pregnancy was taking a toll on her."Magnus, we agreed I would have Blake!" Lilith whispered to me in a deep voice. " You gave me your word." I grabbed her by her arm and twisted it. She yelped in pain. I pulled her towards me so she could smell my horrid breath."Blake doesn't love you and he will never love you even if Celeste is gone from this Earth. Why would he settle for someone ugly and used? He will find someone prettier and fresh. I am doing you a favor."I saw her eyes glaze over for a second, a clear sign someone was communicating with her. It must be the girls telling her to walk away."How would you know? You have never experienced love. Not all wolves are like you, Magnus." Lilith pulled away from me so I let her go. I turned to Celeste, who was on her knees, still consumed by her pain."Celeste, if you had only decided to be with me, then none of this would have happened. Well, you made your bed, now you must lie in it. Girls, bring her forward," I ordered the witches.Jinx uttered a spell and Celeste flew in the air towards me. She was crying. Huge tears fell on her face and her mouth quivered ever so lightly. She blinked and looked up to the ceiling. She was begging for the Moon Goddess to help her. I laughed at her pitiful face. I may be full of scars, but after this, I will be left standing and breathing.Blake's lifeless body lay on the floor in front of my feet and I stepped over him like he was worthless piece of animal. I took Celeste's neck in my hands and started to squeeze the life out of her. Her eyes began to pop out of her head and she began to gag."Promise me. Promise me," Celeste said, her voice faint. Her eyes rolled around to look at Lilith whose head was bent low. Lilith couldn't stand looking at her bestfriend die? After all we have been through? She should be celebrating. Without Celeste, we would become invincible."Die Celeste! Die!" With all my strength, I squeezed her neck with my hands, wilfully hoping she would just die. Her eyes fluttered and she looked up in the sky for one last prayer. Then, with one last gagging sound, her head fell forward with her tongue sticking out. Finally, the High Priestess Celeste is dead!I threw her body on the floor next to her dead mate. Her head arched up and we were all met with her amber eyes. Lilith gasped. Celeste's eyes held vengeance.Suddenly, the lightning clapped and thunder roared through the territory."Everyone, look for their vault!" Torrential rain started to pour. It was so loud I had to yell out my command.I went inside Blake's office. If there was a vault in this mansion, it would most certainly be in here. There was one specific item I was looking for, the yellow diamond ring of Celeste.I started looking behind the magnificent paintings that hung on the wall. None of them had a vault behind it. I looked through Blake's desk. Nothing.Their room! I exited the office and was about to go up the stairs when my Beta came running inside the mansion."Alpha, the whole territory, it is flooding! We must evacuate immediately.""Order a retreat. I still have something I need to find." My harem was also turning the place upside down, looking for the vault. "Upstairs in the rooms. Look for the vault there," I yelled at them. The witches nodded their heads and headed to the stairs when suddenly, water started coming into the mansion."Alpha, there is no time! We must leave now or we will dro-..." My Beta stopped abruptly as he felt the mansion move beneath his feet. The walls started shaking and things started falling on the floor.The chandelier that was hanging above the grand staircase fell to where Celeste was standing when we found her. The witches screamed in fright and one by one, they ran out of the mansion into the flood waters outside."Alpha, let's go!" My Beta pulled me outside where the water was quickly rising. My Beta shifted and sped off to the gates of the territory. I followed suit and shifted into my wolf, Malachi. As I sped off, I looked back at the mansion. The earthquake had caused it to collapse and topple down. The same with all the other homes and buildings found in the territory.As I approached the gates of the territory, vines had began to sprout out from underneath the water, creating a wall. "Malachi, hurry or we won't be able to escape." Malachi sped up, going as fast as he could through the murky water. He jumped over the wall, out into the path that lead us out from the territory and continued to run until we found a place where it was not flooded.I found my harem, panting underneath a tree. They apparently looked frightened."The Moon Goddess is very angry. She brought the rain and shook the ground," Mary said while she tried to catch her breath."Have you gone insane?!" I slapped Mary, bringing her to her senses. "When the rain has stopped, we will go back to the territory. The flood may carry the wood of the house, but a vault is impenetrable. It will be left standing once the water is gone.""Don't you see the wall of vines that grew from the flood waters? It will be impossible to enter the territory through that wall," Lilith said, pointing through the darkness. From where we stood, a tall wall stood around the boundary of the territory."It's just vines. I shall tear them down with my teeth. We will wait until the rain stops, then we will enter Autumn Moon." Vines will not hinder me from getting what I want. I will find that vault and get that ring!After hours of downpour, the rain suddenly stopped. The dark clouds disappeared and the Harvest Moon shone from above. I sent my Beta to see if the waters had receded and to give me a full report on the condition of Autumn Moon.It did not take long for my Beta to return and I found that to be a good sign. However, when he shifted back to his human form, he held his head low, and I knew it wasn't good news."The flood waters have gone, Alpha, but a wall of thorns now stand around the boundary of Autumn Moon territory. I climbed the tallest tree to see the damage to the properties. Sadly, Alpha, nothing stands. It is now barren," he said regretfully."What do you mean barren?!" My voice couldn't hide the frustration I felt."It is a wasteland, Alpha. No houses, no trees, no vegetation, no animals. There is nothing left inside the territory." My Beta pointed towards the east. The rising sun was already casting a rosy hue across the sky. "Let us wait for light so you may see for yourself, Alpha."I kicked the wet earth beneath my feet trying to control my anger. The Moon Goddess was laughing at me, spitting in my face! Damn Her! Damn HER! I looked up at the sky and I growled, unleashing all my anger.____________EmmaI sneaked out of the mansion, holding the baby near my chest. I had to get to the barn as quickly and quietly as possible. It was near, but with rogues roaming around, it seemed so far.Luna Celeste would always go to the barn during her spare time. She had made a small garden there where she grew many important plants she needed for her elixirs and potions. When she would come back, she would have a basket with her, filled with petals, leaves, even roots. Luna Celeste would then go to her conjuring room, spending hours, concocting a specific elixir. Alpha Blake would sometimes sleep there, not wanting to sleep alone.I ran to the path that would lead me to the barn. All the rogues had gone to the front of the mansion, trying to witness the confrontation between Luna Celeste and the Rogue Alpha. I kept running as fast as I could without looking back. I had to leave. I had to bring the baby to safety.The red barn was lit by the moon above. I approached the barn doors and slid them open, hoping there weren't any animals inside. I was surprised to see the barn was a garage. Two cars were parked inside the barn. One had a baby carrier while the other didn't. I placed the baby inside the carrier and checked the trunk for the provisions Luna Celeste had said she had stashed inside. There was a suitcase of money, clothes, shoes, jewelry, a box of elixirs of some kind, as well as a baby bag full of diapers, baby clothes, baby bottles, milk and bottles of distilled water. I made a bottle for the baby, stashed some cash inside the baby bag, and placed the baby bag in the passenger seat.I heard a clap of lightning as well as a rumble of thunder. Strange. There was no news of a thunder storm on the news. I closed the trunk and got into the driver's seat. I grabbed the keys that were on the dashboard infront of the steering wheel and turned on the ignition. I needed to put some distance between us and the rogues.I drove off not knowing where to go. I did have a friend who could help me, but I couldn't bring the baby. If Magnus puts a bounty on the child's head, my friend might decide to betray me. With a temptation as large as that, no one in the wolf world should know where the daughter of Luna Celeste is. It would be better to leave her with humans.I know of a friendly couple Luna Celeste and I had bumped into when we visited Whitefish. I'll leave the baby with them.Moon Goddess, please guide my way.SakuraIt was raining like a tropical storm outside. Lightning sizzled, loud thunder roared and the torrents of rain hitting the roof of the house was so loud, I couldn't hear the television. I wiped my hands on my apron and switched the channel to the news and waited for the weather forecaster to go on. Strange. She didn't mention anything about the rain tonight. Lightning flickered again like a light of a camera and thunder followed it, making the whole house vibrate. A moment ago, the full moon was shining, glistening so beautifully. Then, all of sudden, dark clouds appeared, covering the moon and releasing an angry burst of rain. Oh, well, the weather was always unpredictable.I was washing the dishes while Winston, my husband, went around the house making sure the windows were all shut tight. The wind was howling outside. He didn't want the rain water to stain our hardwood floors.Winston and I have been married for quite some time. I'm a first generation Japanese-Filipino while m
MagnusI was pacing up and down in my study thinking of what I could do so the Council of Wolves would retract the bounty they had so generously offered in exchange for me.Now that Celeste is dead, I could do whatever I want without any obstacles in my way. Although, I'm still ticked off I wasn't able to find that damn ring of hers. The Moon Goddess never plays fair especially for a big bad wolf like me.The Council of Wolves were starting to be a real pain in the neck. They had announced they were offering a bounty for my head, whether I be dead or alive. I mean, why would they care if I sell drugs or smuggle stuff? It's not like I'm doing it to the wolves."Magnus, kidnapping Omegas and making them sex slaves isn't something the Council of Elders would willfully condone. Why don't we just focus on humans? The Omegas are still our brethren," Lilith said, after she read the sheet of paper the Council Elders had put up at the gates of territories of all the wolf packs in the country. S
High Elder I had my chauffeur drive me near the estate of the Rogue Legion where I got out to walk the rest of the way. It was a far walk to the gates of the territory, but I did not want my driver to be accosted by the rogues while I conducted business.I patiently waited at the gate for Magnus where a number of rogues were snarling at me, but because I was the High Elder, they could not attack knowing it would mean their deaths. It was a good fifteen minutes before Magnus himself came out of his mansion to greet me, his harem of dark witches not far behind him."High Elder Alfred Evans, what a nice surprise! I would invite you in, but I know you will decline so we can just talk out here in the open instead. I do commend you for your bravery. Coming here unaccompanied." Magnus shook his head. "I could kill you right where you stand." Magnus chuckled, obviously delighted in the fact I had stooped down to the level of a messenger."Enough of the threats, Magnus. We all know you can not
(Present Day)Later tonight when the Harvest Moon starts to rise will be my 18th birthday. Currently I am a freshman at a university here in Montana near home, although I had wanted to enroll elsewhere. My mother didn't allow me to go to school outside the state saying she preferred family close by. As always, she would say it was the Filipino in her. I tried to argue the fact that she actually left her family in California, but she went technical and justified her decision to keep me home by asserting the fact that she lived at home when she was in college. Then, she threw in "technology" into the debate and pointed out I have a grandmother who is on standby through video call 24/7. So, now when my mother asks me where my grandmother is, I tell her she's in my pocket which usually earns me a dirty look from her. It's true anyway. My smartphone is always in my pocket.It was chaos in our house. My mother was going to throw a Harvest Moon Thanksgiving party for my dad tonight. Actually
IoThe sun was starting to set when I arrived at the large home of the Wrights. Winston Wright, proud owner of The Wright Savings Bank, had invited me to his home for his wife's Harvest Moon Thanksgiving party. I decided it was the least I could do since Winston had just invested a large amount of money into my business.Winston Wright was a savvy investor. He earned his first several millions by investing in upcoming tech companies which are currently worth billions. He bought some foreclosed property around the ski slopes in the mountain and turned it into one of the best ski resorts here in Whitefish, Montana. Finally, he inherited a chain of banks from a very wealthy old friend, who named him his heir, for his friend had no children of his own. Winston Wright has doubled even tripled the bank's revenue since he took over. He is very successful and one lucky man. He has never lost money from an investment. I met Winston Wright at one of my family's fundraisers. He had tracked my fa
He looked like a modern day Adonis. The setting sun behind him casted an ethereal glow on his very tall form which made him look like a Greek God. He was beautiful, there was no other word to describe him. He had dark hair cut neat and short, chiseled features, full lips, a nice nose and clear blue eyes. When he took off his shirt, I had to look away. He was very proud of his physique, but why wouldn't he? His broad shoulders were wide, his chest muscles bulging and his stomach flat and taut. And his arms...his biceps protruded from his arms and were hard to the touch. When I touched his arm, his muscles tensed beneath my touch, extremely sensitive. I apparently affected him as much as he was affecting me.He called me his mate the same time the voice in my head said it. It was strange. I didn't know what it meant even if this man assumed I did. The voice in my head screamed for me to kiss him. I didn't even know how to talk to him let alone kiss him. I have never once kissed a boy le
IoShe looked at me thinking I was joking, but I was dead serious. I wanted to taste those beautiful lips of hers. She stared at me for a few moments, weighing her options."Okay, but on the cheek." What was I to her? Her father? "Ah, no. On the lips. Like any normal couple," I reasoned."We aren't a normal couple. I've only known you for what? An hour? And you want me to kiss you?"She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "And if I don't kiss you, what will you do?" She raised an eyebrow, challenging me. My Luna thinks she can outsmart me."Well, I'll be coming with you...inside your room." I had to make it a tough decision for her or she wouldn't budge."I-I-I haven't kissed anyone before." She suddenly turns around and starts climbing the stairs again. "What I mean to say is, I haven't kissed a boy on the lips ever. But, I have had a boy come in my room before. Many times before. So, I guess you can come with." She motions to me to follow her. Damn, I thought I could trick her into kissin
Kiaria"That's my Auntie Yumi, Io. Aunt Yumi, please don't embarrass me. He's a guest." When my father said his name a while ago, it took me a second to process who he was. Io Hemming, the playboy millionaire. Every week his new girlfriend would be the face of the tabloid newspapers. I should know. My mom has a subscription of a tabloid paper for their crossword puzzle in the back. She leaves her paper on the countertop every morning which I read while I drink my morning cup of coffee. You had to wonder what did all these women see in Io Hemming anyway. Well, now that he's infront of me looking at me like I'm the love of his life, I know why these women would fall for him. He was handsome, smooth, rich and the look in his eyes could make any woman feel special."I heard he's your boyfriend from your mom. When your grandmother hears about this, she'll scold you," my Aunt Yumi warns me."Aunt Yumi, you guys know I'm a pretty good judge of character. Io, tell my aunt who I am to you. Go o